Piping attachment



Dec. 31, 1963 J. COLETTA 3,115,854

PIPING ATTACHMENT Filed Sept. 11, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 Jasqa Cale/1k,

IN VEN TOR.

Dec. 31, 1963 J. COLETTA 3,115,854

PIPING ATTACHMENT Filed Sept. 11. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jasepb 60/2/70;

INKENTOR.

Illa/we United States Patent 3,115,854 PWHWG ATTACHMENT Joseph Coletta, 2002 Fletcher Ave, South Pasadena, (Ialif. Filed Sept. 11, 1961, Ser. No. 137,109 10 Clm nis. (Q1. 112151) The present invention relates to a sewing machine attachment for making piped or bound edges and, more particularly for a device for making piping on pockets.

In the prior art, in the manufacture of custom made suits, for example, in order to provide a coat pocket pipng on which the threads do not show from the exterior, it is the practice to first form the piping loop by basting the piping strip, after it has been sewn to the coat, to form the piping loop or edge. After the loop has been formed by the basting, the coat is then reversed and the piping loop is sewn permanently to the coat on a single needle machine, following the first seam by which the piping strip was originally sewn to the coat. This method provides a good piping but is quite expensive because the basting must be done carefully and slowly in order to form a satisfactory piping loop, and the reversing step adds a considerable amount of time to the process.

In less expensive mens suits, the piping loop on a coat pocket is formed by hand and then sewn together by sewing through the loop rather than making a second seam through the coat material. It requires an expert, experienced operator to perform this operation but at best, too often the threads can be seen on the exterior of the coat on the finished piping.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device for making piping.

It is another object of the invention to provide a piping attachment for sewing machines that makes the custom-type of piping, eliminating the basting and reversing steps, said piping being able to be made with the inventive device by an inexperienced and unskilled operator.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a piping attachment to make a superior piping at a heretofore unknown low cost.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a piping attachment that will produce quality piping .at high speed.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a piping attachment that will make a superior piping without reversing the material and requiring the completion of the piping by a seam sewn from the reverse side of the material.

It is another object of the invention to provide a piping attachment that will make a superior piping on any part of the surface of or the edge of a fabric.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a piping attachment that will make it economically possible to apply a superior piping to low cost clothing.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be brought out in the following part of the specification wherein small details have been described for the competence of disclosure, without intending to limit the scope of the invention which is set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention mounted on a presser foot bar of a sewing machine;

FIG. 2 illustrates an end view taken in the direction of the arrow 2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the device shown in FIGS 1 and 2 in an open position.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the device as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan View of one member of the invention;

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FIG. 6 is an end view of the invention, taken as in dicated by the line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view showing the initial attachment of piping strips to the main fabric of an article of clothing, illustrated as for a dual piping coat pocket;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating the operation of the present invention and forming one of the permanent piping loops;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the main fabric and formed piping loops after the pocket slit has been cut;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional View showing the completed dual piping on a coat pocket;

P16. 11 is a top plan view of a dual piped coat pocket of the type shown in FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the piping shown in FIG. 11.

Referring again to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a sewing machine head it) from which is downwardly extending and reciprocally engaged therewith, a needle support 11 carrying a needle 12. The needle 12 is a conventional thread-carrying sewing machine needle. Also, extending downwardly from head 10 is a presser foot bar 13 to which is secured a piping attachment, according to the present invention, by means of a presser foot receiver 17, the receiver having an open end 18, as best seen in FIG. 4, into which the foot bar 13 extends. An open-ended slot 19 in the receiver receives screw 20, threadedly engaged in the foot bar, by which the receiver is secured to the bar.

Extending downwardly and rearwardly away from the receiver is an arm 23. At its outer end 24 is secured a return arm 25, vertically below and spaced from arm 23, to a position adjacent and substantially below the receiver 17. From inner end 26 of arm 25, substantially at a right angle thereto, extends a generally horizontal bar 29, having a generally rectangular cross section. Extending from the generally rectangular bar 29, in the same direction, is a bar member, designated generally as 30, having a substantially fiat horizontal upper surface 31. Substantially half of-upper surface 31 extends over a solid bar portion 32 and the other half forms the upper surface of a longitudinal flange 35, extending transversely outwardly from portion 32 and terminating in a rounded longitudinal edge 36. The under side 37 of flange 35 terminates in a curved, generally vertical wall 33, forming the outer surface of solid portion 32 and terminating at an outwardly directed point 41 on the bottom surface 42 of portion 32. On flange 35 there is an extension 43 spaced outwardly from bar 29, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. Positioned between the extension 43 and the bar 29 is a vertically directed end wall 44 of the portion 32. As best seen in FIG. 3, the narrowest transverse width of the wall 44, extending between the bar 29 and the innermost point of the curved wall 38, forms the width of a vertical needle passage through bar member 31 indicated in FIG. 3 at 47. In other words, the needle must travel inwardly of all points on the wall 38 and outwardly of the bar 29.

Pivotally mounted on the receiver 17 on a pivot pin 48 are a pair of spaced parallel downwardly directed legs 49 and 5t). Secured to the lower ends of the legs is a generally rectangularly shaped bar, generally designated as 53, having an upper fiat side 54, a fiat outer face 55 and a fiat bottom surface 56, forming a generally U-shaped cross section with a long upper leg 59, a short lower leg 60 and a base portion 61. In contrast to the flange 35 on the bar member 30, the U-configuration is shown to extend the full length of the bar 53.

In FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the bar 30 is shown to mate with the bar 53, the flange 35 extending into the U-configuration with the sides of the spaced surfaces being distanced at q i. to provide for the insertion of two pieces of cloth according to the design of the device. he extent of the mating of the two members is limited by a horizontal stop member 62, secured on the under surface of the receiver 17 and extending outwardly threfrom to abut with the inner surfaces of the legs 49 and St in the mating position.

As shown in FIG. 2, the spaced portions between the two members thus comprise a first horizontal run 65 joined by a curved, generally downwardly directed run 66, a lower horizontal run 67, shorter than the upper run 65, and a terminating downwardly directed run 63.

in the upper surface 54 is a downwardly directed needle passage 7f. in vertical alignment with the end wall 4-iof the solid portion 32 of the bar 3t providing a needle path transversely offset in the direction away from the wall 33 and the bar 53, the needle being directed to avoid contacting any cloth in abutment with the latter wall.

As may be seen in FIG. 3, the legs 4% and t and the bar 53 may be pivoted outwardly and upwardly slightly more than 90 de rees so as to permit the insertion of cloth between the bar 3i) and the bar 53 and the arms 23 and 25. An ear 72 is provided as a handle to aid in the pivoting of member 53 toward and away from its mating relationship with bar member 38.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a pin 73 mounted in a cylindrical container 74, the latter being secured to the arm 23, and containing a spring 77 to bias a pin head 78 so as to urge the bar $3, as shown in FIG. 2, into its mating relationship, and to hold the bar 53 in its extended relationship, as shown in FiG. 3, the center of the pin '73 and the head 7 6 being just vertically above the center of the pivot 48. Thus, when the bar 53 is given a slight push downwardly, the pin 73 will force it into its mating relationship with the bar member 3%.

To operate the device to form a dual piping on a coat pocket, to the main coat material 7%, shown in FIG. 7, two piping strips 80 and 83 are sewn at seams 84 and 85, respectively, and the pocket is marked at line 86 for cutting. To form the first piping loop, the strip 343 is folded at its seam 84 so that an end 89 terminates on the flange 35 and end 90 extends into the space between the arms 23 and 25. At this point the cloth is pulled snugly on the piping attachment and the bar 53 is snapped into its mating and overlapping relationship with the flange 35 to snugly secure the two layers of cloth, as shown in FIG. 8. The cloth is then moved through the device and under the needle to sew the new seam 91, shown in FIG. 9, forming the piping loop $2. As can be seen in FIG. 8, the needle passes transversely away from the wall 38 of the bar portion 32 in the direction away from the bar 53 so as not to contact the cloth under the flange 35.

After the loop 92 has been formed, the process is repeated on the piping strip 83 to form a loop 92'. After this has been formed, the main cloth 79 forming a front of the coat is severed at 95 to form the pocket opening. The next step in the pocket making process is the cutting of two transverse slits at 96 and 96, as shown in PEG. 11. This permits the two loops 92 and 92 to be folded downwardly and the long strip ends 99 and 99' to be pushed through the cut openings to the under side of the main cloth 79, as indicated in FIGS. and 12. After this has been accomplished, seams are sewn at lines 96 and 6 and the pocket piping is finished except for pressing, which forms the finished pocket d4.

As may be visualized from FIG. 10, the seams 84 and 35 being tight are not visible in the plan view shown in FIG. 11, there being only lines 97 and 98 indicating separate pieces of cloth as between the piping material and the main material 79 forming t re front of the coat. Thus, a very fast high quality piping is provided by the present invention and can be accomplished with an inexperienced operator, in contrast to the prior art method of making piping which was slow and expensive and required a skilled operator.

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The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. A piping attachment for a sewing machine comprising: a presser foot receiver; a first member attached to and extending horizontally away from said receiver; a second member pivotally engaged with said receiver, said second member adapted to pivot toward and away from said first member, said members being adapted to mate with each other when the second member is pivoted toward the first member, said first member having a longitudinal portion extending transversely into said second member to mate therewith; and a needle passage extending vertically through said mated members, said passage being transversely offset from said longitudinal portion in the direction away from said second member.

2. A piping attachment for a sewing machine comprising: a presser foot receiver; a first member attached to and extending horizontally away from said receiver; a second member pivotally engaged with said receiver, said secon member adapted to pivot toward and away from said first member, said members being adapted to mate with each other when the second member is pivoted toward the first member, said first member having a longitudinal portion extending transversely into said second member to mate therewith; a wall of said first member extending downwardly from said longitudinal portion; and a needle passage extending vertically through said mated members, said passage being transversely offset from said longitudinal portion and from said wall in the direction away from said second member.

3. A piping attachment for a sewing machine comprising: a presser foot receiver; a first member attached to and extending horizontally away from said receiver; a second member pivotally engaged with said receiver, said second member adapted to pivot toward and away from said first member, said members being adapted to mate with each other when the second member is pivoted toward the first member, said first member having a longitudinally extending horizontal flange directed transversely toward said second member when said members are mated, said second member having a longitudinally extended and generally U-shaped cross section portion, said U-portion being open transversely toward said first memer when said members are mated, said horizontal flange extending into said U-portion in a spaced relationship therewith when said members are mated; a generally vertical wall of said first member extending downwardly from said flange; and a needle passage extending vertically through said mated members, said passage being transversely oifset from said flange and said wall in the direction away from said second member.

4. A piping attachment for a sewing machine comprising: a presser foot receiver; a first arm extending away from said receiver; a return arm extending from an outer end of said first arm and toward said receiver, said arms being vertically spaced at said receiver and for a substantial portion of their length extending outwardly therefrom, the return arm being under the first arm; a first member extending from said return arm at a position adjacent said receiver and extending horizontally away from said receiver at an angle with said return arm; a second member pivotally engaged with said receiver, said second member adapted to pivot toward and away from said first member, said members being adapted to mate with each other when the second member is pivoted toward the first member, said first member having a longitudinal portion extending transversely into said second member to mate therewith; a generally vertical wall of said first member extending downwardly from said longitudinal portion; and a needle passage extending vertically through said mated members, said passage being transversely offset from said longitudinal portion and said wall in the direction away from said second member.

5. A piping attachment for a sewing machine comprising: a presser foot receiver; a first arm extending away from said receiver; a return arm extending from an outer end of said first arm and toward said receiver, said arms being vertically spaced at said receiver and for a sub stantial portion of their length extending outwardly therefrom, the return arm being under the first arm; a first member extending from said return arm at a position adjacent said receiver and extending horizontally away from said receiver at an angle with said return arm; a second member pivotally engaged with said receiver, said second member adapted to pivot toward and away from said first member, said members being adapted to mate with each other when the second member is pivoted toward the first member, said first member having a longitudinally extended horizontal flange directed transversely toward said second member when said members are mated, said second member having a longitudinally extended and generally U-shaped cross sectioned portion, said U-portion being open transversely toward said first member when said members are mated, said horizontal flange extending into said U-portion in a spaced relationship therewith when said members are mated; a generally vertical wall of said first member terminating upwardly adjacent where said flange joins said first member and extending downwardly therefrom; and a needle passage extending vertically through said mated members, said passage being transversely offset from said flange and said well in the direction away from said second member.

6. A piping attachment for a sewing machine comprising: a presser foot receiver; a first arm extending away from said receiver; a return arm extending from an outer end of said first arm and toward said receiver, said arms being vertically spaced at said receiver and for a substantial portion of their length extending outwardly therefrom, the return arm being under the first arm; a first member extending from said return arm at a position adjacent said receiver and extending horizontally away from said receiver at an angle with said return arm; a second member pivotally engaged with said receiver, said second member adapted to pivot toward and away from said first member, said members being adapted to mate with each other in overlapping relationship when the second member is pivoted toward the first member, said first member having a longitudinally extended horizontal flange directed transversely toward said second memher when said members are mated, said second member having a longitudinally extended and generally U-shaped cross sectioned portion, said portion being open transversely toward said first member when said members are mated, said horizontal flange extending into said U-portion in a spaced relationship therewith when said members are mated; a generally vertical wall of said first member terminating upwardly adjacent where said flange joins said first member and extending downwardly therefrom; a needle passage extending vertically through said mated members, said passage being horizontally transversely offset from said flange and said wall in the direction away from said second member; and means to hold said second member in a position pivoted away from said first member, said last means being adapted to urge said second member toward said first member when said second member is pivoted out of said last position toward said first member.

7. A piping attachment for a sewing machine comprising: a presser foot receiver; a first arm extending away from said receiver; a return arm extending from an outer end of said first arm and toward said receiver, said arms being vertically spaced at said receiver and for a substantial portion of their length extending therefrom, the return arm being under the first arm; a first member extending from an inner end of said return arm adjacent said receiver and extending horizontally away from said receiver substantially at a right angle thereto; a second member pivotally engaged with said receiver, said second member adapted to pivot toward and away from said first member, said members being adapted to mate with each other in overlapping relationship when the second member is pivoted toward the first member, said first member having a longitudinally directed horizontal flange having its outer edge extending generally longitudinally parallel to said first member, said outer edge extending transversely toward said second member when said members are mated, said second member having a longitudinally directed and generally U-shaped cross sectioned portion, the legs of said U-portion being substantially horizontal and said U-portion being open toward said first member when said members are mated, said horizontal flange extending into said U-portion in a spaced relationship therewith when said members are mated; a generally vertical wall of said first member terminating upwardly adjacent where said flange joins said first member and extending downwardly therefrom; and a needle passage extending vertically through said mated members, said passage being horizontally transversely oifset from said flange and said wall in the direction away from said second member and said outer edge.

8. A piping attachment for a sewing machine comprising: a presser foot receiver; a first arm extending away from said receiver; a return arm extending from an outer end of said first arm and toward said receiver, said arms being vertically spaced at said receiver and for a substantial portion of their length extending therefrom, the return arm being under the first arm; a first member extending from an inner end of said return arm adjacent said receiver and extending horizontally away from said receiver substantially at a right angle thereto; a second member pivotally engaged with said receiver, said second member adapted to pivot toward and away from said first member, said members being adapted to mate with each other in overlapping relationship when the second member is pivoted toward the first member, said first member having a longitudinally directed horizontal flange having its outer edge extending generally longitudinally parallel to said first member, said outer edge extending transversely toward said second member when said members are mated, said second member having a longitudinally directed and generally U-shaped cross sectioned portion, the legs of said U-portion being substantially horizontal and said U-portion being open toward said first member when said members are mated, said horizontal flange extending into said U-portion in a spaced relationship therewith when said members are mated, the lower leg of said U- portion being shorter than the upper leg, the bottom surface of said lower leg being aligned with the bottom surface of said first member when said members are mated; and a needle passage extending vertically through said mated members, said passage being horizontally transversely offset from the inner portion of said flange opposite said outer edge in the direction away from said second member.

9. A piping attachment for a sewing machine comprising: a presser foot receiver; a first arm extending away from said receiver; a return arm extending from an outer end of said first arm and toward said receiver, said arms being vertically spaced at said receiver and for a substantial portion of their length extending therefrom, the return arm being under the first arm; a first member extending from an inner end of said return arm adjacent said receiver and extending horizontally away from said receiver substantially at a right angle thereto; a second member pivotally engaged with said receiver, said second member adapted to pivot toward and away from said first member, said first member having a longitudinally directed horizontal flange having its outer edge extending generally longitudinally parallel to said first member, said outer edge extending transversely toward said second member when said members are mated, said second member having a longitudinally directed and generally U-shaped cross sectioned portion, the legs of said U-portion being substantially horizontal and said U-portion being open toward said first member when said members are mated, said horizontal flange extending into said U-portion in a spaced relationship therewith when said members are mated, the lower leg of said U-portion being shorter than the upper leg, the bottom surface of said lower leg being aligned with the bottom surface of said first member when said members are mated; a generally vertical wall extending upwardly from said bottom surface of said first member and terminating adjacent the underside of said flange where said flange begins; and a needle passage extending vertically through said mated members, said passage being transversely ofiset from said flange and said generally vertical wall in the direction away from said second member.

10. A piping attachment for a sewing machine comprising: a presser foot receiver; a first member attached to and extending horizontally away from said receiver; a second member pivotally engaged with said receiver, said second member adapted to pivot toward and away from said first member, said members being adapted to mate with each other when the second member is pivoted toward the first member saicl first member having a longitudinal portion extending transversely into said second member to mate therewith in a spaced relationship, forming a first horizontal space between said longitudinal portion and a top horizontal portion of said second member, a second curved generally vertically directed space extending downwardly from said first space and formed between an outer edge of said longitudinal portion and an inner surface of said second member, a third horizontal space generally parallel to and under said first space having one end extending from the lower end of said second curved space, and a downwardly directed space extending from the other end of said third space terminating between outer bottom surfaces of said first and second mated members and under said longitudinal portion; and a needle passage extending vertically through said mated members, said passage being horizontally transversely offset from said longitudinal portion and said downwardly directed space in the direction away from said second member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 694,373 Goforth Mar. 4, 1902 1,357,105 McCoy Oct. 26, 1920 1,987,384 Ackerman et al Jan. 8, 1935 2,712,801 Reid July 12, 1955 

1. A PIPING ATTACHMENT FOR A SEWING MACHINE COMPRISING: A PRESSER FOOT RECEIVER; A FIRST MEMBER ATTACHED TO AND EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY AWAY FROM SAID RECEIVER; A SECOND MEMBER PIVOTALLY ENGAGED WITH SAID RECEIVER, SAID SECOND MEMBER ADAPTED TO PIVOT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID FIRST MEMBER, SAID MEMBERS BEING ADAPTED TO MATE WITH EACH OTHER WHEN THE SECOND MEMBER IS PIVOTED TOWARD THE FIRST MEMBER, SAID FIRST MEMBER HAVING A LONGITUDINAL PORTION EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY INTO SAID SECOND MEMBER TO MATE THEREWITH; AND A NEEDLE PASSAGE EXTENDING VERTICALLY THROUGH SAID MATED MEMBERS, SAID PASSAGE BEING TRANSVERSELY OFFSET FROM SAID LONGITUDINAL PORTION IN THE DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID SECOND MEMBER. 